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Newcastle play in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, and a match at the Hunter Stadium couldn’t have come soon enough for the struggling Jets.

Phil Stubbins’ side faces the current ladder leaders in Melbourne Victory who come off the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Wellington despite having to field an understrength side.

Newcastle’s task will be made harder in the absence of Northern Irish midfielder Jonny Steele, who has been granted indefinite leave after not showing up for training on Wednesday.

Defender Scott Neville and midfielder Marcos Flores return to the squad after missing the trip to Perth last weekend.